Woman says she didn't realize signing ticket meant her name could be revealed

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Updated: 12:44 AM EST Feb 6, 2018

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WEBVTT IT APPEARS THAT SPEED ANDINEXPERIENCE WERE FACTORS IN THECRASH.SEAN: THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LOTTERYSAYS THE WINNER OF LAST MONTH'SJACKPOT WANTS TO REMAINANONYMOUS.THE TICKET FOR THE JANUARY 7DRAWING WAS SOLD AT REEDS FERRYMARKET IN MERRIMACK.STATE LAW ALLOWS WINNERS TO KEEPTHEIR NAME PRIVATE.

$560 million Powerball winner wants to stay anonymous

Woman says she didn't realize signing ticket meant her name could be revealed

The winner of last month's $560 million Powerball jackpot has filed paperwork aimed at blocking New Hampshire from identifying her publicly.

The woman who bought the winning ticket at Reed's Ferry Market in Merrimack signed the back of the ticket, her lawyers said. But that means her name could be made public, officials said, and her lawyers said she wants to remain anonymous.

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"I hope the state of New Hampshire is a little flexible and lets her be anonymous if she wishes to stay anonymous," said Sam Safa, owner of Reed's Ferry Market.

According to court paperwork filed in Nashua, the woman went to the New Hampshire Lottery's website and followed instructions to sign her name on the back of the ticket, not realizing that meant her name could be made public.

"She made a mistake that all of us could do," Safa said. "You get so excited, you don't want to lose the ticket, and you put your name on it right away, and then you read more details, and say, 'I should not have signed it.'"

According to the lottery, there is strict protocol involving Powerball tickets, and the only way to remain anonymous is to sign the ticket in the name of a trust.

In a statement, the lottery director said the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office advised that the lottery must proceed in accordance with its rules and state law.

Attorneys representing the woman said she values her privacy and wants to remain an engaged community member.

Safa said he will receive a bonus of $52,000 for selling the winning ticket, and he's already been approached several times by charities looking for money.

"I'm already getting emails and phone calls every day, tons of them, and I didn't even win, so I can only imagine if this lady becomes known, she could be harassed a lot," he said.